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Bullpen still recovering from 19-inning game

4/29/13: Jerome Williams pitches six impressive innings in relief, scattering four hits and allowing just one run against the A's

By William Boor
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Monday's 19-inning game against the A's ended early Tuesday morning, but as of Thursday evening, the Angels' pitching staff was still feeling the effects.

"It takes a while for your pitching to reset [after] a game like that," manager Mike Scioscia said.

Asking any bullpen to pitch 12 2/3 innings is excessive, but it may have been even more taxing for the Angels' bullpen -- a group that's been decimated by injuries. Four relievers -- Sean Burnett, Kevin Jepsen, Mark Lowe and Ryan Madson -- are on the disabled list, and Scott Downs left Wednesday's game early with pain in his right rib cage. Downs is unavailable Thursday.

The Angels have used 18 pitchers this season -- the second most in the Major Leagues -- and if Ryan Brasier gets into a game, then all the healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster will have pitched for the Major League club this season.

"I think the pitching staff, and particularly the bullpen, is going to take a little time," Scioscia said.

In Monday's contest, the Angels used Jerome Williams for six innings, then a combination of Downs, Michael Roth, Dane De La Rosa, Ernesto Frieri, Michael Kohn and Barry Enright for the other 6 2/3 frames out of the bullpen.

"You had Jerome throw a lot in that game. Dane De La Rosa had been throwing a lot, and he had to throw that night and the following night," Scioscia said. "Then there's the add on because other guys are short guys having to bounce back. Where does that leave you two or three days down the road?"

William Boor is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.